Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

B. M. HUBBS.

OAR COUPLING. No. 287,934. v Patented Nov. 6, 1883.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-411981; 2.

E. M. HOBBS. GAB QO P IN No. 287,934. Patented Nov. 6. 1883.

I UNITED' STATES PATENT tries,

ELIJAH M. HOBBS, on SANTA Bosh, CALIFOR-SIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,934, dated November 6, 1883.

' Application filed March 6, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, ELIJAH M. Honns, of

SantaRosa, county of Sonoma, State of Califor- I the connecting or coupling pin, and in a guard V hinged link-pin.

for the externally-pivoted link-latch, all of which will hereinafter fully appear, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a view of my device. Fig. 2 is a view of the pin.. Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4: is a sectional view. Fig. 5 is a view of my A represents the top. From the rear of the draw-head chamber a extends,backwardly, a passage,b,through the floor of which, at its rear end, is'made a hole, a. Pivoted tothe outside of the drawhead is a heavy link-latch, D, which is adapted to fall down upon side walls, m, in the chamher of the draw-head.

0 represents the coupling-pin. Its rear end is beveled and is provided with an under shoulder, d. It has also an upper central shoulder, e, and a forward end shoulder, 6'. Thus far the pin corresponds to thoseshownin my patcut; but I now use but a single pin, and this I provide with a slot, at, between the shoulders e e, thus making it a 1ink-pin. At its rear end, on top, I provide a shoulder, 0. fits its rear endinto the hole 0, its under shoulder, d, securing it. Its shoulder 0 limits the rise of the forward end by coming in contact with the rear wall of passage I), and thus adds to the security of the pin in the hole 0. The

forward end extends into the opposite drawhead,which is a duplicate of the one described. The pivoted link-latches drop down over the shoulders e and e, which impinge behind the lip or edge of the link-latches, and thus couple the cars. If, however, it shouldbe desired to couple by the employment of the ordinary draw-head,having an open This link-pin pin, this can be done by reason of the slot at. This is the object of the slot-namely, that the pin 0 maybe used as an ordinarylink and receive a vertical pin. When these open drawheads are used in aregion in which snow falls, some provision should be made to keep the chambers clear. For this purpose I cover the link-latches with a metal sheet, P, which, while not interfering with their movement, aiford the chambers of the draw-heads a protection from snow, dust, or other foreign materials likely to find their way in and clog the device.

Attached to the end of the car Q by suitable guides is a rod, q, the upper end of which is provided with a handloop, q. Its lower end is attached by a chain, 0, to the forward end of the link-latch D, or to its cover, as shown. Upon the end of the other car is to be a similar contrivance, whereby either or both of the latches may be raised to release the pin. In raising the rod q its hand-loop is turned and fits over the edge of the car-roof for support, thus sustaining the latch in an elevated position. To release it the loopis turned sidewise and'the rod descends to the first guide and allows the latch to fall.

It may be found impracticable to use a rigid coupling-pin. If one draw-head should be lower than the other, the end of the pin would not enter the draw-head, but would bind andhave a tendency to raise the link-catch from its engagement. In order to avoid this I may construct my link as shown in Fig. 5. Here the slotted portion is separate, and is jointed or hinged to the solid portion at w by any suitable form of hinge. Thishinge shouldbe made stiff enough to maintain either end of the linkpin in any position to which it maybe forced, and yet not too stiff but that it may yield when necessary. By this construction the link-pin may fit any draw-head by conforming its direction to enter the draw-head chamber without bending.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina car-coupling, the open-top draw-head A, provided with passageb and hole 0, and side Too 2 l I zsaaan der, 6, and forward shoulder, e, and a slot, 12,

between the shoulders e e, substantially as herein described. I

2. In a car-coupling, the opcntop draw-head A, having passage 1) and hole a, in combination with the link-pin 0, adapted to fit said drawhead, and having a rear top shoulder, 0, and link-latch D,'for securing said link-pin all arranged and operating substantially as herein described.

3. The open-top draw-head A, in combina tion with the externally-pivoted link-latch D, provided with a cover or cap, P, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

4. In a car-coupling, in combination with opposite draw-heads and suitable latching de- ELTJAH M. HOBBS.

Witnesses:

S. H. N oURsE, Gno. H. STRONG. 

